Club Captain Player Stats Height 6' (183cm) Weight 12.01 (77kg) Date of Birth 06/03/79 Place of Birth Bedford Position Defender Foot Right Nationality English Previous Clubs Barnsley Free Sheff Wed Loan Oxford Loan Stockport Loan Torquay Loan Southampton Signed Torquay Junior 08/09 Stats (All Comp) Appearances 17 (0) Goals 0 Yellow Cards 0 Red Cards 1 Squad No. 16

Profile provided by Andrew Thomas

After the previous season, which he spent on the sidelines with an injury, many supporters simply forgot what a good defender Garry Monk is, and how much we'd missed him.

He formed an extremely sound defensive partnership with Dennis Lawrence, and although he is a very good tackler and header of the ball, his main strength is the way in which he reads the game. Probably not the fastest player at the club, Garry always makes up for it by anticipation.

He rarely misses a header, even against taller opponents, and manages to get away with pushing strikers before the ball reaches them, putting them off balance and ensuring that most referees don't notice any infringement.

Garry is the most senior ginger in the squad, retaining his title against Alan Tate and main contender Shaun McDonald.

2007/2008

Profile provided by Andrew Thomas

Unfortunately his least memorable season since joining the Swans, Garry was injured his knee at the start of last season, having only played a few minutes football. His loss was probably a contributary factor in the club's faltering start to the campaign, as well as being one of the earliest in a long line of injury problems.

2006/2007

Profile provided by Andrew Thomas

'Steady Eddie' of the squad who rarely lets the team down, automatic choice for captain when Roberto Martinez was absent last season, Garry has now officially been handed the captain's armband.

Reads the game very well, but benefits from having a player with genuine pace alongside him. Apparently cooks a mean Chicken Cacciatore for his pals.

Garry does not have a big hooter despite press reports to the contrary!

2005/2006

Profile provided by Andrew Thomas

Arguably one of the best two signings, along with Sam Ricketts that Kenny Jackett has made. Garry is quite simply the glue that holds the Swans defence together. Despite 3 sending-offs last season, in no way is he a dirty player, but is guilty of over-exuberance on occasion, and was certainly victim to some dreadful refereeing.

Reads a game brilliantly, with 2 good feet and distribution skills, the defence never looked the same when he was suspended. Hopefully he will have the same sort of impact on League 1 as he did in League 2. Garry looks as if he has the class to easily make the step up a division.

Garry became a fluent French speaker during the time he spent suspended last season.

2004/2005

Started off his professional career at Torquay United as a trainee and at the end of the 95/96 season he signed for Southampton.

Soon after leaving he returned to Torquay on loan to help out in an injury crisis at Plainmoor, He later returned to The Dell to make his Premiership debut against Everton.

After a loan spell with Stockport he made for 4 further appearences for the Saints, and was trying to catch the eye of the England coach Glen Hoddle

He was unable to get a place in the team at the start of the 2000/01 season, and joined Second Division strugglers Oxford United on loan in January 2001 who finished bottom, a place bellow the Swans.

The 01/02 season saw Garry make only 3 appearences, which meant that he had only made 12 appearences for the Saints in 6 years. He extended his contract until the Summer of 2004 in December 2002 and went and joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan who were struggling at the bottom of Division. They were relegated finishing 3rd from bottom.

He then went on loan at Barnsley at the end of the 2003/4 season and then later signed on a free transfer.

Gary is also a former England Under-17 international. And has signed a 3 year contract keeping him at the Vetch until 2007.

Garry Monk - Soccerbase.com